COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Andrew Cooper (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
The meeting opened at 10. 05 am in public session
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 9 December 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from Assembly Research on Essential Skills in Apprenticeship Training
Jennifer Betts, Assembly Researcher, provided an overview of the apprenticeship frameworks in practice and the delivery of essential skills to apprentices. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
10.12 am Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting
Agreed: Members agreed to request supplementary information on the delivery of the apprenticeships framework.
3. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which is subject to negative resolution and has been laid in the Assembly:
The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed : Members agreed to defer consideration of this Rule until the next meeting.
4. Welfare Reform Bill EQIA Consultation
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Social Development highlighting its concerns with certain aspects of the proposed Welfare Reform Bill and the related EQIA consultation.
Agreed: Members agreed to contact Disability Action and request a briefing on disability issues raised by the proposed Welfare Reform Bill
5. Matters Arising
- FE Lecturers Pay Query
Agreed: Members. considered correspondence from the UCU regarding pay issues raised by FE lecturers and agreed to request further comment from ANIC.
- Magee College Student Numbers
Agreed: Members noted these statistics.
- Ministerial Briefing – further information
Agreed : Members noted information provided by the Minister in response to issues arising from his briefing to the Committee on 11 November 2009, and agreed to defer further consideration.
6. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
7. Departmental Press Notices and Press cuttings
Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices and other extracts from the local press.
8. Any Other Business
- OFMDFM Inquiry Evidence
Members noted correspondence from the OFMdFM Committee regarding its European Inquiry.
- Service Provision for the Disabled
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development regarding the service provision for disabled people and agreed to forward the memo to DEL for comment.
- European Works Council Directive.
Members noted this Directive.
- DEL Procurement Plan
Members noted the DEL Procurement Plan template for 2009-2010.
- DSD proposed Statutory Rule
Members noted the proposed Statutory Rule , The Income Support (Prescribed Catego ries of Person) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009, which is to be made by the Department for Social Development.
- Match funding for European Social Fund Projects
Agreed : The Committee considered correspondence from Women into Business regarding ESF match funding from Belfast City Council and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Council and to DEL for comment.
- Forward Work Programme – for information
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of January 2009 to March 2010.
9. Briefing from the National Autistic Society (NI) on the “Don’t Write me off” campaign
Shirelle Stewart, Communications Officer, Regina Cox, National Co-ordinator, and Jenny McGleave, from the National Autistic Society (NI), outlined the aims of the “Don’t Write me off” campaign in improving access routes to employment for those living with autism.
Agreed: Members agreed to forward the proposed National Autistic Society employment strategy to the DEL, DSD, DHSSPS and OFMdFM for comment.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 13 January 2010 in Room 30, Parliament Building.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.18 am